The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1887-03-25
LASSOING A LION.
A WYOMING COWBOYS THRILLING AD-
VENTURE.

WYOMING COWBOYS TuRILLINa AD-
VENTURE.
"Last Summer, while in Wyoming, I
had decidedly startling adventure" re-
marked ayoung man the other day, in
presence ofa San Francisco CAL reporter
And subsequently,, upon being questioned
by the latter, he told tho following remark
BILE, but well authenticated tale: was in
the cmploy ofa cattlemau-in short, cow
boy and besides a natural love of adven-
ture, which L had gratifed for several
years, had, no doubt, imbibed some of that
spirit of utter recklessnoss which character
ICES the class Of which was, for the time
being, member. Early one bright morn
lug my employer sent me out to look for
some horses that had strayed, he thought,
somewhere in the vicinity of Lance Creek
(abous 500 miles north of Cheyenue), on ly
few miles from where we were then en-
camped. Mounted on my stout little
broncho, or "cow pony" soon reached
the creek, and rode slowly along its banks,
keeping sharp lookout for tho missing
horses. The banks of the creek were
fringed with cottonwood and poplar trees,
iuterminglsd with clumps of osers, aud q
dense undergrowth; but on either side the
country was open and billy. Experience
has taught me to bo suspicious of any tree
or bush, in that section, large enough to
ambush human being, for to say nothing
Of white desperadoes, Sioux Cheyenne In
dians from the Pine Ridge Agency we're
frequently met with, aud, though, profess
sedly at peace, were not to be trusted. Con-
sequently, as rode along, from time to
time peered anxiously in among the trees
and upderbrush,
I had followed the co urse of the creek
severalSmilss, when suddenly my pony
snortsd and jumped to one side almost un-
seating We. Perhaps ten PAGES in front of
me crouched, as if ready to spring, were
three largo mountain lions 1 had always
had great desire to meet one Of these
creatures iu his native wilds; but this was
atrihe too much of good thing to suit
me. Without seconds thought, how
ever, whipped out my Colts revolver
the only weapon l had-and fred at the
group. At the report of my pistol two of
them bounded off through the underbrush
aud were soon ont of sight, and the other,
uttering sh.ill scream, writhed for sec-
ond on the ground, and then attempted to
follow his companions, limping badly.
My blood was up. two of the fine crea-
lures had taken flight, and without reflect
ing upon the possible consequences, put
spurs TO my pony and dashed afte. tho
wounded lion. Moving SO rapidly, knew
it would be impossible to shoot with auy
accuracy, and there was great danger of the
lion turning on me if I approached too
near. Suddenly it flashed through nv
mind: Why can't I lasso him, as 1 have
heard Of gauchos doing on the South
American pampas?
Attached to my saddle was my braided
rawhide lasso-about forty feet in length
in the use of which I had, as every cowboy
must, become quite proficient. One end of
it was firmly attached to tn, pommel of
my saddle, aud the remainder Of it, o.re-
fully coiled up, was tied to the front of the
saddle by means Of couple of rawhide
strings or thongs. Hastily christening
the latter-wthout checking my pony,
which was evidently much excited and in
clined to sheer away from the lion-I pre-
pared for the throw. had used nv lasso
50 much recently, doing little else but lasso
or "rope" cattle for weeks together, that it
was but the work of a moment. Carefully
measuring the distance with my eve, I
whirled the lasso several times aroundimy
head, and, at what seemed the proper me-
mcnt, let fly. The instant it left my hand
my pony, as he had been trained, stopped
suddenly, and braced back, almost upon
his launches. My calculations had been
correct.
L saw tho rope settle around the lions
neck, and tho next instant, when he
reached the end Of it. and tightening it
threw him on his back. He uttered the
most appalling scream it was ever ny 10. to
hear. The instant the rope became taut-
you may be sure did not waste any time.
wheeled my pony in the opposite direc-
tion dug my spurs into his side, and da,ted